When I was in the process of making a career change after a dozen years working in the news industry, I remember thinking I would work twice as hard for a company that would give me a little more flexibility in my life. The chance to work remotely a little bit more, get home in time to take my son trick-or-treating on Halloween, etc. Just a few examples of little things that can make a big difference.
By and large, I’ve had that, and I’m incredibly grateful. But when Castle introduced a new benefit to employees called “Work Away” at the beginning of this year, it exceeded my expectations. Through this new benefit, Castle employees can work from anywhere in the world for up to one month every two years, with the company subsidizing a portion of the trip.
It was an incredible opportunity and one I wasn’t sure I’d be able to take advantage of at first. Getting logistics figured out and planning travel with my family (with a young child and another coming soon!) seemed like a tall task.
Kudos to my wife for getting the ball rolling. She spoke to a few of her work friends over the summer, told them about this benefit, and was told, there’s no way you can not do this! She had looked up multiple Airbnb’s in France by the time I got home that day and began figuring out how to pool her PTO at work to make it happen.
This is how, at the beginning of October, we found ourselves loading up our bags, a stroller, a car seat, and my laptop (can’t forget that!), then heading to Logan Airport for three and a half weeks in France. It was a trip we will never forget and an experience that I hope more employees (at Castle and beyond) have the chance to enjoy, for so many reasons.
Since returning, several friends and industry colleagues have asked about the details of this experience – how it works, what to think about, and how to plan for it.
How It Works
Castle allows all full-time employees to work remotely from anywhere across the country or beyond once every two years. You can work away for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of four and tack on some PTO before or after your working days. The company reimburses up to a certain amount after the trip.
My family and I settled on France this summer because… why not? Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, croque monsieur, you can’t see enough or eat enough. I did my Workaway days (two weeks) at an Airbnb in the Normandy region and then took PTO for the final week and a half of the trip to explore Paris.
Things to Consider
One stipulation of our policy is that employees must work East Coast hours. In France, this translated to working an evening shift of 2:30-11:30 p.m. Many mornings, we would pack up our toddler and take a day trip to some of the towns and cities around Normandy – brunch at a café in the coastal city of Dieppe, a ride up the funicular to the cliffs of Treport – and get back in time to put him down for an afternoon nap and for me to start working.
This schedule worked great for a family traveling with a young child. I was able to work in the afternoon when he napped, and on most nights, I joined my family for dinner at six, when we typically take our noon lunch break back home at Castle. But if you’re a young person looking to work in a new city and then enjoy some nightlife? You might want to pick a different destination and time zone.
We also had to do a significant amount of pre-trip planning. Packing, ensuring our Airbnb had strong Wi-Fi, adding international calling to our phones, etc. It was essential to figure out these logistics beforehand so I wouldn’t arrive in our tiny French village without the necessary tools to work effectively.
Working Abroad
Working and traveling abroad with family was one of the most fulfilling adventures ever. The experience was much more enriching because our whole family experienced a different culture, language, and cuisine. But no doubt, working abroad for any extended time has its challenges.
The biggest one is the time difference. The adjustment is familiar to anyone who’s worked a second-shift job before, whether in the news, the service industry, or a warehouse. You must be prepared to start your workday in the middle of the afternoon and work until late at night. Minor differences, too, in European technology, like phone chargers, Wi-Fi connections, and calling plans, all need to be figured out well in advance of departure.
Key Takeaways
All of this demands solid communication with your colleagues and managers. I provided a few updates to my team before I left with some tips and preferences – like Zoom or Teams meetings when possible, instead of international phone calls – before I left.
I also tried to be mindful of what I shared on social media. Yes, it was a big, fun, exciting trip that my colleagues were excited about for me. But I tried to be thoughtful about when and how much I was posting – knowing I wasn’t just there to enjoy the scenery but also to work.
And this probably goes without saying, but you still have to work hard. While in a new, exciting place, your colleagues are back at the office working. I tried to be extra responsive via email and Teams, check in a little more often, and show up to all meetings on time.
Everyone at work was excited for me, but I don’t think they would have loved picking up the slack if I had been slow to respond and taking extra-long lunches at seaside cafés, as enticing as that may have been! Au revoir, Work Away, see you in two years!
